Spurs run down Suns

Nazr Mohammed and Tim Duncan combined for 50 points and 29 rebounds to lead the Spurs to a 108-102 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Friday at the AT&T Center. Mohammed matched his season high for scoring in the first half and finished the game with 30 points and 16 rebounds. Duncan had 20 points and 13 rebounds.

The Spurs led the entire fourth quarter, but never by more than six points.

Steve Nash led the Suns with 30 points but had only six assists. Nash entered the game leading the NBA in assists with 10.9 per game. Shawn Marion had 22 points for the Suns, but didn’t score in the last nine minutes of the game.

After the game, Mohammed said the last time he scored 30 points happened when he was with the Atlanta Hawks — two teams ago for him.

THIRD QUARTER

The Spurs finished the third quarter with an 11-4 run to take an 82-78 lead into the fourth quarter. There were seven lead changes in the third quarter. The Spurs forged ahead when Duncan scored six straight points by making a pair of free throws, followed by a hook shot and a driving basket.

SECOND QUARTER

The Suns took their first lead of the game with 1.3 seconds left in the first half. Boris Diaw made a pair of free throws that gave the Suns a 56-55 halftime lead. The Suns wiped out a 10-point Spurs lead with an 18-7 scoring run in the last 3:26 of the second quarter.

Mohammed grabbed an offensive rebound with 6:34 left in the second quarter that gave him a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. At that point the Spurs were leading 42-35.

Mohammed finished the first half with 18 points and 12 rebounds.

Tony Parker, the Spurs’ leading scorer on the season, had only three points in the first half.

FIRST QUARTER

The Spurs used their size advantage to grab an early lead. Duncan and Mohammed combined to make three baskets in the first three minutes of the game as the Spurs jumped out to a seven-point lead.

Duncan and Mohammed combined for 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Spurs to a 26-25 lead at the end of the first quarter.

PREGAME

Melvin Sanders, who was signed by the Spurs on Thursday, is on the active list for the game. The Spurs were once again without Nick Van Exel. The veteran guard was on the inactive list with a sore left elbow. Forward Sean Marks was also on the inactive list for the Spurs.

Amare Stoudemire was inactive for the Suns. Stoudemire has not played this season after having knee surgery. Kurt Thomas and Briant Grant were also inactive for Phoenix.

Part of the pregame entertainment was provided by Dan Majerle. The former Suns star, who is part of the Phoenix television broadcast crew, was seated along the sideline at halfcourt before the game. While sitting on a stool, he was shooting back over his head at the basket about 50 feet away. It took about 20 tries, but he hit the shot — drawing cheers from the crowd.